Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1468707
V O L . X X V I I I N O. X I M AY 3 0 , 2 0 2 2 22 C O R P O R AT E R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y F O C U S "e number one indicator of someone wanting to stay someplace is whether they have good support and good experience. It helps with work- force development," Chong says. "It all comes down to relationships and how well someone's known. Getting the business community to know this population better allows an avenue for relationships to be made." Other efforts being made include sharing DEI training and education pro- grams created at some of Maine's largest corporations such as Unum, Hannaford, WEX and L.L.Bean with any business that wants to learn from them. e Portland chamber also plans to bring on a consultant to be a project manager to make sure the DEI goals are being met. As part of that, the chamber aims to raise $300,000 to help with the intern- ships, boost the networking efforts for the ird Place and ProsperityME and pay for the DEI consultant. Already half of that fundraising has been achieved, Hentzel says. "e importance of this work can- not be overstated. is broadens the scope of people who would come here and want to continue to grow the state and improve the state. People are our number one priority. Full stop," says Simonds. "e power is in the hands of the worker, which is great. We want to create really powerful and inclusive envi- ronments where the worker wants to be, and thrive and grow." Simonds says the DEI efforts also make great business sense. "Our businesses may be in Maine, but our customers reach across the U.S., which is diverse and changing. A company is not going to be successful if they're not sensitive to the diversity of thought, ideas and desires of their employees and customers," Simonds says. "We want firms in Maine that are serving more than Maine." Je ssic a Hal l, Mainebiz staff w r ite r, can be reached at jhall @ mainebiz.biz » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E A company is not going to be successful if they're not sensitive to the diversity of thought, ideas and desires of their employees and customers. — Michael Simonds Unum Group P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F U N U M Michael Simonds, chief operating officer at Unum, said diversity helps Maine businesses become more responsive to customers and employees here and nationwide.